Free Clawed: Wild Things, Book 3 by Beverly Rae Page B

kind of told him.”
    When would her friend stop dropping emotionally charged bombs on her? “You kind of told him? Damn, Nina, please say you didn’t tell him about that . You didn’t, did you?”
    But Nina’s expression told her everything she didn’t want to know. Still, to be certain, she had to hear the words. She grasped her friend’s arm, keeping her on the log. “Tell me what you said, Nina.”
    “I just, well, I just sort of said you’d seen Conan before he came to our camp. Plus, that you couldn’t figure out how one moment you’re looking at him and then, in the next moment, you’re looking at a bear.”
    Chloe was on her feet and pacing as though she could get away from both her friend and what she’d revealed. “Oh, hell. I do not believe this. Isn’t it bad enough that the man thinks I’m after him for a relationship?”
    “He does?”
    “And now he’ll think I’m crazy in a whole different way.” Chloe ran a hand though her hair, her heart pounding against her chest.
    “Hey, don’t worry about it. I told him what happened. You know. How you were slightly inebriated at the time.”
    The expression oh, my God had never meant more than it did at that moment. “Terrific. Just terrific. Not only will he think I see things, but now he’ll think I’m a drunk.”
    “No. I’m sure he won’t. Besides, who knows? Billy might not even mention it to him.”
    Chloe tilted her head, tossing her friend a scornful look. “Really? You don’t think so? If the situation were reversed, wouldn’t you tell your best friend some juicy tidbits about his latest conquest? Especially if you thought the conquest was a nutcase.”
    Nina scrunched up her face. “I see your point. Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
    “No, you didn’t.” How had her trip gone so wrong so fast? In less than a day she’d met an unbelievably handsome albeit bull-headed man who she’d not only fantasized about but who had also been the main character in a real-life hallucination. What next? An alien abduction?
     
     
    “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    Chloe stopped to pull off her shoe and dump the dirt out of it. “No. But I don’t think I have a choice.”
    Nina waited until she slipped her shoe back on, then started down the trail again. “I guess I could try and explain the situation to Billy.”
    “We’ve already discussed this. I want to be sure he understands that you made a mistake in telling him about what I saw. What I think I saw.” Chloe gritted her teeth against the urge to declare what she’d seen was real. Without a doubt, the bear had been real. But the man changing into a bear? As much as she told herself she’d hallucinated, she couldn’t shake the feeling that even the amazing transformation had been real.
    “Okay, maybe I made a mistake by telling him.”
    Chloe rolled her eyes at her friend. “Ya think? I want him to promise not to repeat the story. Not to anyone, including Conan. And I want to actually hear his promise.”
    “Well, if you’re sure.”
    “Don’t worry, Nina. I won’t stay and intrude on your hook-up in the woods.” Chloe repositioned her backpack on her shoulder. “I’ll get some water for cleanup, then you two can have your fun while I find a location to paint.”
    The two friends continued in silence down the path leading to the stream. Every step brought her closer to the area where she’d first seen Conan and every step sent her excitement a step higher. Would Conan come with Billy? Doubtful. He probably wouldn’t want to risk running into her in case she’d tagged along with Nina. A flutter of sadness echoed inside her.
    Hell, what was she thinking? Conan had made it very clear that he had no real interest in her other than rolling in the sleeping bag with her. Why should she care? He was just someone she’d had a wild, impulsive fling with. Nothing more. Still, she couldn’t deny the chaotic feelings churning her stomach.
    Chloe groaned, the sound